Dear Family and Friends,
This will be our last post of 2011 so it's time to say GOODBYE 2011 and give a short recap of the year. 2011 was the first year we were full-time residents of India (at least for U.S. tax purposes). We ushered in the New Year with a New Year's Eve flight from Bangkok to Delhi and arrived back at our apartment just before ringing in the new year. We were invited down to our landlords place downstairs to have drinks, drinks, and finally a huge feast a little past 2:00 a.m. That's how parties here in India usually happen.
Around the 3rd day of January was when I (Karen) first got hit by what they call "Delhi Belly". I call it an olympic event running to the toilet and figuring out which end it's going to come out of first (or even better... simultaneously). No more gory details, but this Delhi belly lasted off and on until May, the worst of it being 2 weeks in mid-February after a somewhat sketchy banana lassi (milkshake). Tim was also struck by symptoms off and on, but we both survived (and now have guts of steel?)!!
We were thrilled and excited to spend time in India with my Dad in February and Tim's parents in March. We enjoyed playing host and tour guide. With my Dad we traveled to the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, and a tiger reserve where we went on a tiger safari and saw two of the great beasts. Tim took his parents to Amristar, the Taj (of course), Dharmsala, and Jim Corbett National Park where they went on a safari on elephant-back. Tim and I took a weekend trip to Neemrana Fort Palace (a former royal palace converted into hotel/resort). We were pleased with the amount of traveling we did within India!
Without being able to wait any longer, we finally headed toward western civilization!! Stopping in London and Scotland for 2 weeks, we enjoyed the scenery, but were glad to be home finally in June! We loved being home with friends, family, and other Americans. Boy was it nice to hear that southern drawl once again! We ate as much mexican food and Chick-fil-a as possible (sometimes even several times a day).
Leaving our family and going back to India in August was difficult, but the adjustment our second time around was much easier. Within the first month, there was a small bombing at a courthouse nearby our apartment, and the same day there was a sizable earthquake that rumbled through our apartment. Despite those shaky events, we have been happy and healthy this year. We hired a part-time cook and purchased a water cooler which have improved our quality of life here tremendously. Ranuka (our cook) makes dinner 3 times a week, most of which is Indian food (paneer and tomato sauce, tandoori chicken, dal makhani being our favorites). She has kept us very well fed and away from suspect restaurants.
In September, after a year and a half, we were finally successful selling our condo and are happy to have that off our shoulders. If you read the blog post about the termites and ceiling collapse at our apartment in India, all is repaired and good as new! We spent Thanksgiving in the Himalayan foothills in Dharmsala (home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism). We are now spending Christmas in Chiang Mai, Thailand and then going to Phuket to the beach in a few days!
Last month, we signed a contract for another year (2012-13 school year). That gives many of you another year to book your flight and come for a visit! Before moving here, it was hard to imagine what our daily life would be like. But we both agree now that it's better than we had imagined it would be. There are many things we miss about life in America (mostly our friends and family... and a few restaurants, too). We are almost up to date with our favorite American TV shows, but are way behind on movies. That gives us something to look forward to at Redbox this summer!
In 2010, when we made the decision to come to India, many people say "Why India?" We still don't have the answer... but why not India?? In the new year, we wish the best for all of you, the most happiness, peace, and good health. We appreciate your love and support, and we look forward to a wonderful 2012!
With love and best wishes,
Karen and Tim
This will be our last post of 2011 so it's time to say GOODBYE 2011 and give a short recap of the year. 2011 was the first year we were full-time residents of India (at least for U.S. tax purposes). We ushered in the New Year with a New Year's Eve flight from Bangkok to Delhi and arrived back at our apartment just before ringing in the new year. We were invited down to our landlords place downstairs to have drinks, drinks, and finally a huge feast a little past 2:00 a.m. That's how parties here in India usually happen.
Around the 3rd day of January was when I (Karen) first got hit by what they call "Delhi Belly". I call it an olympic event running to the toilet and figuring out which end it's going to come out of first (or even better... simultaneously). No more gory details, but this Delhi belly lasted off and on until May, the worst of it being 2 weeks in mid-February after a somewhat sketchy banana lassi (milkshake). Tim was also struck by symptoms off and on, but we both survived (and now have guts of steel?)!!
We were thrilled and excited to spend time in India with my Dad in February and Tim's parents in March. We enjoyed playing host and tour guide. With my Dad we traveled to the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, and a tiger reserve where we went on a tiger safari and saw two of the great beasts. Tim took his parents to Amristar, the Taj (of course), Dharmsala, and Jim Corbett National Park where they went on a safari on elephant-back. Tim and I took a weekend trip to Neemrana Fort Palace (a former royal palace converted into hotel/resort). We were pleased with the amount of traveling we did within India!
Without being able to wait any longer, we finally headed toward western civilization!! Stopping in London and Scotland for 2 weeks, we enjoyed the scenery, but were glad to be home finally in June! We loved being home with friends, family, and other Americans. Boy was it nice to hear that southern drawl once again! We ate as much mexican food and Chick-fil-a as possible (sometimes even several times a day).
Leaving our family and going back to India in August was difficult, but the adjustment our second time around was much easier. Within the first month, there was a small bombing at a courthouse nearby our apartment, and the same day there was a sizable earthquake that rumbled through our apartment. Despite those shaky events, we have been happy and healthy this year. We hired a part-time cook and purchased a water cooler which have improved our quality of life here tremendously. Ranuka (our cook) makes dinner 3 times a week, most of which is Indian food (paneer and tomato sauce, tandoori chicken, dal makhani being our favorites). She has kept us very well fed and away from suspect restaurants.
In September, after a year and a half, we were finally successful selling our condo and are happy to have that off our shoulders. If you read the blog post about the termites and ceiling collapse at our apartment in India, all is repaired and good as new! We spent Thanksgiving in the Himalayan foothills in Dharmsala (home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism). We are now spending Christmas in Chiang Mai, Thailand and then going to Phuket to the beach in a few days!
Last month, we signed a contract for another year (2012-13 school year). That gives many of you another year to book your flight and come for a visit! Before moving here, it was hard to imagine what our daily life would be like. But we both agree now that it's better than we had imagined it would be. There are many things we miss about life in America (mostly our friends and family... and a few restaurants, too). We are almost up to date with our favorite American TV shows, but are way behind on movies. That gives us something to look forward to at Redbox this summer!
In 2010, when we made the decision to come to India, many people say "Why India?" We still don't have the answer... but why not India?? In the new year, we wish the best for all of you, the most happiness, peace, and good health. We appreciate your love and support, and we look forward to a wonderful 2012!
With love and best wishes,
Karen and Tim
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell me!